Out (2020 film)

Last updated

Out
Out 2020 film poster.jpg
Official poster
Directed bySteven Clay Hunter
Written bySteven Clay Hunter
Produced byMax Sachar
Starring
  • Caleb Cabrera
  • Matthew Martin
  • Kyle McDaniel
  • Bernadette Sullivan
CinematographyMatthew Silas
(camera)
Edited byNoah Newman
Music by Jake Monaco
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • May 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)(Disney+)
Running time
9 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Out is a 2020 American animated short film directed and written by Steven Clay Hunter, produced by Max Sachar, and distributed by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. [1] The plot features a young gay man who has not yet come out to his parents, who unexpectedly has his mind magically swapped with his dog's. The seventh short film in the SparkShorts series, it is both Disney's and Pixar's first short to feature a gay main character and storyline, including an on-screen same-sex kiss. [2] The short was released on Disney+ on May 22, 2020. [3] The short was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. [4]

Contents

Plot

A magical cat and dog appear outside Greg's townhouse, as he and his boyfriend Manuel are packing his belongings to move. The cat imbues the collar of Greg's dog Jim with magic. Inside, reminiscing about a photo of them together, Manuel encourages Greg to come out to his parents, who unexpectedly show up to help. Greg hastily hides the photo and Manuel quietly exits by the back door. Holding Jim's collar, Greg casually wishes aloud that he would become a dog, and the minds of Greg and Jim magically switch bodies. "Greg" runs outside to play in the yard, where his stoic father is lighting the grill. "Jim" tries to get to him, while also frantically trying to prevent his eagerly helpful mother from finding the photo.

Frustrated by the dog's misbehavior, she sits and talks aloud of her sadness about her son moving away, as "Jim" listens. Imagining a conversation with Greg, she hopes that he finds someone who loves him, and "that he makes you happy". "Jim" suddenly realizes that she not only already knows that he is gay, but she also accepts it. He briefly comforts her, then chases down "Greg", and successfully switches their minds back. That evening, Greg introduces Manuel to his parents; Greg's father spontaneously hugs Manuel. The magical cat and dog see their mission accomplished, and leap away on a rainbow.

Cast

Production

Out is the seventh film in Pixar's SparkShorts program. [5] It was directed and written by Steven Clay Hunter, known for animation work on Finding Nemo and WALL-E , [6] and produced by Max Sachar, known for his work on Coco and Toy Story 3 . [7]

Music

Jake Monaco composed the music for Out. The score was released on July 3, 2020. [8]

Out (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Jake Monaco
ReleasedJuly 3, 2020 (2020-07-03)
Genre Film score
Label Hollywood

Track listing

All music is composed by Jake Monaco

No.TitleLength
1."Burying the Bone"4:32
2."OUT"0:51
3."Pink & Purple"3:28
Total length:8:51

Release

Out was released on Disney+ on May 22, 2020, [9] [10] [11] and on YouTube in June 2021 as part of the year's Pride Month celebrations. [12] [13]

Reception

Critical response

Kshitij Rawat of The Indian Express stated Out explores the apprehensions felt by members of the LGBTQ community during the coming out, found the story emotional across its running time, and called the animation unique and fresh through its style. [14] Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media rated the short film 5 out of 5 stars, praised the educational value, stating the short film promotes acceptance, and applauded the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing familial and romantic love. [15]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
2021 GLAAD Media Awards Special RecognitionOutWon [16]
Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film Shortlisted [4]

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References

  1. ↑ "SparkShorts". Pixar . January 18, 2018. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ Welk, Brian (May 22, 2020). "Pixar's New Short Film 'Out' Features Studio's 1st Gay Main Character". TheWrap . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  3. ↑ Morrison, Tony (May 22, 2020). "Here's why Pixar's new short 'Out' is a coming-out story for everyone". ABC News . American Broadcasting Company . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "93rd Oscars® Shortlists In Nine Award Categories Announced". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 9, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ Lally, David [@davidmlally] (January 12, 2020). "Future SparkShorts Confirmation" (Tweet). Retrieved May 22, 2020– via Twitter.
  6. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (May 23, 2020). "Pixar Short Film 'Out' Features Studio's First Gay Main Character". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  7. ↑ Aviles, Gwen (May 22, 2020). "New short film 'Out' features Pixar's first gay main character". NBC News . NBCUniversal . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  8. ↑ "'Out' Soundtrack". Soundtrack.Net . Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ @disneyplus (May 1, 2020). "The complete Skywalker Saga. #ThePrincessBride. #Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. And more. Clearly, the Force is STRONG with this month. #DisneyPlus" (Tweet). Retrieved May 15, 2020– via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "New Short Film 'Out' Features Pixar's First Gay Main Character". WBTS-CD . NBC Owned Television Stations. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ Romano, Nick (May 22, 2020). "Pixar's first gay main character arrives in moving Disney+ short film". Entertainment Weekly . Meredith Corporation . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Out" Full SparkShort | Celebrate Pride Month | Pixar . Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. ↑ Celebrating Pride Month with Pixar's Out | Disney+ . Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Out review: This Pixar short film tells a moving story". The Indian Express. May 26, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ Green, Jennifer (June 11, 2020). "'Out' Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD . April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
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